Plumes of smoke from controlled burns

Much of the smoke you are likely to see today in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin is coming from various controlled burns. There is one near Stateline, Fallen Leaf Lake and another farther up the West Shore.

The burns are scheduled on days without wind, when the temperature is ideal and humidity levels are just right. The piles are brush that has been cleared from forested areas to reduce the risk of a wildland fire.